Top Dog

Top Dog Holiday Contest

Hi, I’m Nancy, greeting you from Huntington Beach! As someone who has always loved connecting with people and leading an active life, losing my vision due to retinitis pigmentosa hasn’t stopped me from pursuing my passions. But there came a point where I needed a guide dog to help me maintain my independence.

When Guide Dogs for the Blind approached me, they asked what type of dog I wanted. I immediately knew I wanted a yellow lab. The lightness of his fur allows me to see his eyes and nose, creating a connection that’s incredibly meaningful. Enter Frost, my guide dog, who has become my partner in life. Frost and I have these intimate moments where we get nose to nose, and at the end of a long day, I tell him, “This wouldn’t be possible without you. I love you, I love you, I love you.”

I got Frost in 2021, just as we were all coming out of the fog of the pandemic, and I was thrilled to get back to seeing friends and traveling. Meanwhile, my work as a life coach and in radio was growing, and even with my busy schedule, I felt drawn to give back to nonprofits, especially Guide Dogs for the Blind for bringing Frost into my life. So, I created Nonprofit MVP, a competition TV show for nonprofits, with Frost as my co-host. With Frost by my side, I feel like I can accomplish anything.

In my free time, I love dating and dressing up, and I have to say—Frost is a fantastic wingman. The way he reacts to my date tells me everything I need to know—whether it’s a happy lick or a not-so-subtle disapproval. Frost helps me in more ways than I can describe.

Thank you, Guide Dogs for the Blind, for giving me this incredible partner. Frost is truly my perfect match—fun, tenacious, and just as enthusiastic about beach walks as I am!

Nancy Solari

Top Dog Holiday Contest

Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) gave me courage and hope at a time in my life when my vision was rapidly decreasing. Life was becoming more challenging, and I was sinking into a mild depression. After falling on my head a few times and being hit by a car while walking with friends in Laguna Beach, I was convinced I needed a guide dog. I applied for a guide dog and was accepted. My first guide dog, Braxton, co-raised by Bay Area raisers Mary Kay Batina and Clair Lee Gardner, was a perfect fit! He loved working at the middle school where I taught. The two of us frequently traveled across the country. Braxton gave me courage. I’m happy to say at the end of his twelfth year he is enjoying his pampered retirement in our home.

My successor guide, Moto, raised by Colorado raiser Julie Andrews, is six years old and looks forward to our daily adventures. Moto is flexible and loves the lifestyle of a sixty something retiree! He is playful, eager to learn new skills, loves the outdoors, and even swims in our pool. Moto gave me hope. Every day is a new day filled with possibilities!

To show my appreciation for giving me courage and hope through two stellar Labrador retrievers, Braxton and Moto, I’ve created a fundraiser along with my team OC Guide Dogs to raise funds for Guide Dogs for the Blind. No amount of giving is too small. Every bit helps reach our goal. Your kindness and support can truly change lives. It will help GDB provide exceptional training, support, and education to amazing human and canine teams – all free of charge. Click here for the Top Dog Contest for GDB

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for considering this opportunity to make a difference. Together, we can make a PAWSitive impact for individuals who are blind or visually impaired like myself.

Mindy Wulff

Top Dog Post

From breeding to puppy raising to training to after school support, GDB is an extraordinary organization!

Today, when I meet young children who are trying to understand my situation, I tell them I don’t know my colors. As a young person, mobility wasn’t much of an issue for me because I had an idyllic environment for a totally blind child and a marvelously supportive family. I had good enough obstacle perception to ride a bike and roller skate. Most important, the adults in my environment made sure that I was not isolated or excluded. This was a marvelous blessing that I did not appreciate at the time.

It was only after graduating from college and going to work as an account executive for a radio station that I started to understand the real challenges of blindness both socially and from a mobility standpoint.
From the time I was a teenager, I had received a braille magazine from The Seeing Eye annually. I didn’t get much Braille in the mail those days so I read it every time it came. That planted a seed of interest so when I found myself frustrated by both the social and travel needs of my job, I inquired about a Seeing Eye Dog. At the time, I thought its social benefits would outweigh its mobility advantages. Seeing Eye agreed and they encouraged me to try it. By the time I received an invitation to the school I had changed jobs and no longer had the same needs for a guide dog. After a two year wait at Seeing Eye, I got a wonderful male yellow lab,  a dog named Harvard. The most unexpected thrill of that experience was walking around my neighborhood and going shopping with our newborn  daughter in a backpack; something I would never do with a cane! Unfortunately, Harvard and I didn’t settle well so I returned him after about a year. The Seeing Eye was spectacular in this experience and I have nothing but praise for them. 

In my mid 60s I found myself once again frustrated by certain limitations of blindness, but this time I had more of a need, more time, and the benefit of a cell phone with a remote set of eyes when needed. As my kids grew older and moved away and as I wasn’t as engaged in my work life, I wanted to expand my travel options and improve my social situation. The challenge I never expected as a blind adult was the isolation blindness causes in the increasingly fragile tech heavy world we live in. With much trepidation, I approached GDB about trying a guide dog again. Their admissions process was spectacular. They said yes, I said yes, and I received my dog guide, Paulette, late in 2018. In retrospect, getting her just before the pandemic was a great stroke of luck!

Paulette serves as a terrific guide, a wonderful icebreaker in public, and a true companion. I love exploring new areas, walking on the beach, and going to the grocery store with her on a biweekly basis.